The invitation came from the chairman (le Président) of this academy, Alain Bilot, an old friend to my mother- and father-in-law and subsequently a friend of ours.
The academy aim at promoting and enriching the cultural heritage and life in Berry, the very landscape in which we - among other cities - find La Châtre.
The name Berry is ancient and today this region is divided between the two départements (administrative division) Indre and Cher.
This day started at 10.30 a.m. and ended at 5.30 p.m.
It all started with an interesting lecture about Déols, the monastery/abbey - Abbaye Notre-Dame-du-Bourg-Dieu - and its history, presented to us by monsieur Michel Delaume a member of L'Academie and historian.
This monastery has a long history dating back to the 10th century (built between the 10th and 14th century) and also being very important in the history of the Christian Church in France.
In this abbey resided one or more popes in the early history of this church building, at the time immensely big, covering many achers.
This day also included the reception of a new member to the Academy, namely Jean-Yves Clément, writer, editor and artistic director for Festival des Fêtes romantiques de Nohant and a passionate lover of Frédéric Chopin and the Romantic Movement on the whole.
He brought two books he had written about different aspects in the life of Chopin:
Les deux âmes de Frédéric Chopin and Nuits de l'âme 21 poèmes d'après les 21 nocturnes de Frédéric Chopin.
The title of his lecture was: "Franz, Frédéric et mot, de Bourges à Châteauroux... Itinéraire d'un Berrichon romantique".
He told us that Chopin in some way had followed him through the years even if he doesn't listen to his music each and everyday.
One of the first composers I started playing when studying the piano, was Chopin and the first piece of music by Chopin was one of his nocturnes, but which one? I don't remember.
A very nice day and outside the sun was shining, warming us outside and in and after the soul and spirit had been nurtured our abdomens was likewise nurtured, with a lovely dinner nearby.
Below some pictures from the event:
(Above)
The chair of the chairman, monsieur Bilot
(Above) The famous(?) sword with which
the Academy (should) 'knight' their new members.
The academy aim at promoting and enriching the cultural heritage and life in Berry, the very landscape in which we - among other cities - find La Châtre.
The name Berry is ancient and today this region is divided between the two départements (administrative division) Indre and Cher.
This day started at 10.30 a.m. and ended at 5.30 p.m.
It all started with an interesting lecture about Déols, the monastery/abbey - Abbaye Notre-Dame-du-Bourg-Dieu - and its history, presented to us by monsieur Michel Delaume a member of L'Academie and historian.
This monastery has a long history dating back to the 10th century (built between the 10th and 14th century) and also being very important in the history of the Christian Church in France.
In this abbey resided one or more popes in the early history of this church building, at the time immensely big, covering many achers.
This day also included the reception of a new member to the Academy, namely Jean-Yves Clément, writer, editor and artistic director for Festival des Fêtes romantiques de Nohant and a passionate lover of Frédéric Chopin and the Romantic Movement on the whole.
He brought two books he had written about different aspects in the life of Chopin:
Les deux âmes de Frédéric Chopin and Nuits de l'âme 21 poèmes d'après les 21 nocturnes de Frédéric Chopin.
The title of his lecture was: "Franz, Frédéric et mot, de Bourges à Châteauroux... Itinéraire d'un Berrichon romantique".
He told us that Chopin in some way had followed him through the years even if he doesn't listen to his music each and everyday.
One of the first composers I started playing when studying the piano, was Chopin and the first piece of music by Chopin was one of his nocturnes, but which one? I don't remember.
A very nice day and outside the sun was shining, warming us outside and in and after the soul and spirit had been nurtured our abdomens was likewise nurtured, with a lovely dinner nearby.
Below some pictures from the event:
(Above)The chair of the chairman, monsieur Bilot
(Above) The famous(?) sword with which the Academy (should) 'knight' their new members.
(Above)
Monsieur Bilot waving his hands, using his body to talk and explain
Monsieur Bilot waving his hands, using his body to talk and explain
and beside him the newly 'knighted' Jean-Yves Clément, among others.
At the table - second from the left - we find monsieur Jacques Viard, restorer/conservationist, working with church-/mural paintings, not only in Berry but all over France.He was awarded Prix de l'Académie du Berry 2009/2010, for his excellent work in different churches, preserving the cultural heritage.
He is above all interested in churchpaintings from the 18th century.
We had the pleasure meeting him last summer when working in one of the local churches in Indre.
(Above) Two of many figures in the old abbey,
some of them depicting then existing people -
noone knows who they were -
others (like these ones) more mythological figures.
(Above) This is one of the wooden ports,
earlier at the surface but throughout the centuries
now having been placed under ground level.
(Above) To the right, me, Gunnar, listening to the historian M. Didier Dubant.
(Above) The very same monsieur Dubant animating the history aorund the abbey, for me and others.
(Above) In this photo we are looking at the model of the original abbey.
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